516. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a farmer in County Kerry (details supplied) had a significant reduction applied to their 2024 ACRES payment; if this reduction will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41548/24]

An application was received in the name of this herdowner for the Co-Operation stream of ACRES Tranche 1.

As the Deputy will be aware, a decision was made in early 2024 to issue an interim payment to any ACRES Tranche 1 participant that had not yet received an advance payment for scheme year 2023. A payment of €5,000 issued to the person named at the end of February 2024.

My Department wrote to all recipients of the interim payment to advise that their final ACRES Year 1 payments would be based on the ACRES actions approved in their contract and, where results-based actions are included, the scores assigned to the relevant land. They were also advised that an overpayment would arise if the final ACRES amount calculated came to less than the amount of their interim payment.

In this case, the total contract value for the 2023 scheme year amounted to €1,547.46, which resulted in an overpayment, as this was less than the interim payment of €5,000. Accordingly, a letter issued to the participant regarding the overpayment of €3,452.54. This letter outlined the options available to them with regard to repayment.

I ensured that my Department provided a flexible approach in the collection of these overpayments, that encourages any farmer not in a position to make the full refund, or to have it recovered from the next DAFM payment, to engage with the Department in relation to alternative payment arrangements. This includes the possibility to recover the outstanding amount from the next ACRES payment.

Please see breakdown below in respect of the relevant payments for the 2023 Scheme year.